Improvement in clock-movements



2 Sheath-Sheet l. A. E. HOTOHKISS.

Clock-Movement.

No. 221,310. Patented Nov. 4, 11879.

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ATTORN EY 2Sheets-Sheet2 A. E. HOTOHKISS. Clock-Movement.

No. 221,310. Patented Nov.4, 1879.

WITNESSES INVENTOR WWWTfl/Y. C ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR E. HOTCHKISS, OF CHESHIRE, CCNNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOCK-MOVEMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 221,3 [0. dated November 4, 1879; application filed July '29, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR E. Horou- KIss. of Cheshire, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clock- Movements; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being 11 ad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked 1 hereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of timekeepers in which a fixed annular rack or internally-toothed wheel is employed to aid a spring-barrel in rotating the train of wheels.

The nature ofsaid invention consists, partly, in the combination of'a fixed internally-toothed circular rack and a concentric going barrel or plate with a mainspring, a transmitting-wheel rotating with said barrel, and a fixed clockmovement.

It also consists in arranging the operating parts of the time-piece on a fixed plate and attaching the same to the back of the clockcase by means of tongues which extend out from said plate through perforations in the back of said case.

It also consists in providing said tongues with broad shoulders, which cause said plate to stand out from the back of the clock-case, so as to leave space for the mainspring between them.

It also consists in the combination of a main spring having a perforated end with a lateral finger extending from the broad part of one of said tongues, whereby said mainspring is firmly held at its fixed end, yet easily detached.

It also consists in the combination, with a fixed plate, which confines the maiuspriug and supports the movement of a rotating plate arranged in front of said fixed plate, and provided with a hub which extends through said fixed plate and is connected to the winding end of the mainsprin It also consists in adapting to and combining with the hub thus constructed a key having a screw-threaded winding part for engaging with said hub and a recessed part for engaging with theprismatic end of the centershaft.

It also consists in constructing the annular rack or internally-toothed wheel with an annular recess for receiving the pillar-plate and thereby economizing space.

It also consists in constructing the pillarplate and pillars in one piece, and attaching said pillars to the front plate by twisting them.

It also consists in substituting an automatic windingdog, operating like an escapementverge, for the click and spring ordinary used.

It also consists in constructing the case with an opening at the bottom and adapting the key and the adjusting-nut of the pendulumball to one another, so that the adjustment of the said ball may be effected conveniently from outside of the case.

It also consists in providing said ball with a spring which will force it down into place, and with a guide which will prevent it from turning.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 represents a front perspective view of a clock en bodying my invention, the front of the case and also the dial-plate having been removed. Fl 2 represents a rear elevation of the case, showin g the method of attaching the works thereto. Fig. 3 representsa rear detail view of the mainspringand the plate to which it is attached. Fig. 4 represents a detail sectional view of the fixed plate, the rotating plate, the pillarplate, and the toothed ring or circular rack, showing the hollow winding-hub. Fig. 5 represents a front perspective detail of the recessed circular rack, with the rear pillarplate in position. Fig. 6 represents a detail view of the front and rear pillar-plates and pillars in position, showing the method of attaching the front pillauplate to the pillars. Fig. 7 represents a detail view of my auto matic winding dog applied on the center wheel and shaft. Fig. 8 represents a front view of my dial-plate, showing the method of attachment of said plate to the front pillarplate and of the dial to said dial-plate. Fi 9 represents a detail view of the slotted automatically-adjustable minute-hand. Fig. 10 represents a detail view of the key. Fig. 1l rep resents a detail view of the pendulum. Fig. 12 represents a detail view of the pendulum-bal.

guide-plate. Fig. 13 represents in detail the transmitting-wheel and adjacent parts.

Most of these details are enlarged from the scale of Fig. l, to exhibit more plainly the smaller features of the device.

In said drawings, A designates the back of the clock-ease, and A the bottom thereof. This case is made, preferably, of sheet metal, which may be nickelplated, if desired; and the said back is constructed with a central opening, a, to receive the winding-hub, hereinafter described, and with smaller openings to near the sides to receive the tongues, hereinafter described, whereby the works are fastened to the case. The said case-bottom A is provided with an opening, (1?, which allows the entrance of the key to adjust the pendulum-ball. The construction of the clock-case and the adaptation of the works thereto allow the clock to be wound, set, and regulated without opening the case.

13 designates the mi'iinspring, and C a fixed disk or plate, which holds the same in position between said plate and the back of the clock. Said mainspring occupies the whole back of the space occupied by the works, so as to give the greatest running power with the least possible expense of room, one of the leading objects of my invention being to render it possible to make a cheap, neat, and satisfactory time-pi. cos of unusually small size. Many of the features of said invention are, however, applicable to large clocks or other large time-pieces as well.

The said plate (3 forms a sort of base-plate or attaehingplate for all the works of the watch, so that when. it is detached from the watch-case all of said works will come off with it. The attaclnnent of said plate to said case is ell'ected as follows: C designates four or more short iianges formed in one piece with plate 0, and terminating in square shoulders, which rest against the back A. These lianges are formed with narrow rearwardlyextending tongues or claws c, which pass through said openings to in said clock-case back, and are bent on the outside thereof, so as to clamp said plate and its attachments in place. These tongues or claws 0 have sutlicient strength to hold the lightworks permanentlyin position; but they are readily straightened to allow the separation of works and case for cleaning and other purposes.

The flanges C answer the same purpose as the sides of an ordinary watch-barrel in bolding the expanding mainspring in place, and the iixed end of said mainspringB is attached to one of said flanges by means of a perforation in said spring, which sits overa linger, 0, formed on the side of said rlange. This connection, though firm, allows easy and speedy detachment. The spac s between flanges U allowthe spring B to be conveniently inspected.

0n said fixed plate 0, and extending considerably above the periphery of the same, is permanently secured a fixed internally-geared ring or circular rack, D, which meshes with and gives motion to a gear-wheel, E, carried by a rotating plate, F, which is similarin form to plate (1, and rests againstit. These plates are concentric, and plate F is somewhat smaller than plate 0. Plate F is provided with a central hollow hub, G, attached to a short hollow cylindrical bearing, G, which extends through a central opening of plate 0. To the outside of this hub the winding and operating end of mainspring B is attached. Thus the said mainspring operates to rotate said plate F. The wheel E, carried by said rotating plate, is iournaled on a rivet or headed stud formed with or attached to said plate. This method ofattachment amljournaling is very strong and secure, and, besides, avoids all necessity for an additional bearing or brace for the pivot.- shaft. The said wheel E is in effect an idlewheel, transmitting the action of the cogs in the stationary geared ring or circular rack to a pinion, c, on the center-shaft, ill, and the train of wheels I. The center-shaft has its outer bearing in the cylindrical piece G, and its inner bearing in the fixed front plate, hereinafter described, so that it does not turn with plate F, but is stationary with relation thereto. The renn'tining wheels of the train or movement are also stationary with reference to the motion of said plate, being pivoted in the front and rear with plates J and K. The only wheel which does not have a stationary axis is the transmitting-wheel E, whose function is simply that of an idle-wheel. 13y male ing the movement stationary instead of cansing it to be carried around by the revolving plates, (as movements have heretofore been carried by going-barrels ol'lerating with a lixed rac-k,) I avoid divers practical difficulties of nn'inufacturc incidental to the construction and use of so many wheels having moving axes and compound revolution. Moreover, 1 thereby adapt the movement to be used with a pendulun'l, which would otherwise be practically impossible, as the pendulum cannot well be made to revolve.

The construction of the plates 0 and F and of the attached parts gives to my time-piece the combined advantages of aiixed barrel and a going-barrel, The iixed plate t) effectually braces the revolving plate F, and the latter has no need of the flanges or side pieces found in an ordinary going-barrel. It is obvious, however, that said revolving plate F may be furnished with such flanges, if desired. This plate F is protected at the side by the circular rack D, and in front by the pillar-plate J This pillar-plate is ata suflicient distance from said rotating plate to allow space for the trans inittiug-wheel E and the center pinion, with which it meshes. To enable said pillar-plate to be thoroughly braced by said rack, and also fit the parts together in the smallest possible space, the said rack is constructed with an internal annular recess, 9, in its rear edge or corner. Said-pillar-plate J is set into this recess.

The pillars J are formed in one piece with said pillar-plate J, and, preferably, by striking up out of sheet metal. Each pillar terminatesin square shoulders j, which abut against the rear side of front plate, K, and short arms or tipsj, which extend through holes kin said plate K. By twisting said tips said 'l'rontpillar-plate is clamped to said pillars. This twisting may be effected by any convenient tool. When said tips are bent back again so as to be straight there is no difticulty in separating the pillar-plates.

My front plate, K, is provided with a fixed pin, L, which extends forward, so as to pass through a perforation, m, in the dial-plate M, so as to prevent said dial-plate from having rotary motion.

The dial N is attached to dial-plate M by an eyelet, O, which is struck up forward from the center of said plate and bent back upon said dial. Said eyelet is in one piece with said dial-plate. By having said eyelet in one piece with said dial-plate the danger of losing said eyelet is entirely obviated and the number of separate parts lessened. The dial-plate itself is held against the ends of the pillars by the hands of the watch,- which are arranged and attached as usual with the following exception: The center-shaft should be perfectly cylindrical, so as to exactly fit the hole in the minute-hand P; but, in practice, some irregularity of shape in said shaft is frequently met with. To obviate this difficulty the inner end of the hand is slotted or spl1t from the hole outward at p. as shown in detail in Fig. 5), the said hand beinginade of elasticmaterial. The elasticity ofthe hand thus split will cause it to grasp tightly a shaft which is not a perfectly-true cylinder, so that the hand will retain its proper place. This construction thus forms an automatic adjustment for said hand. Of course, both hands may be constructed in this way.

Of course, many of the features of my improved time-keeper may be used in a marine clock or other horological device which does not include a pendulum. In the accompanying drawings 1 have, however, shown a pendulum hung upon a knife-edge and designated Q. As the peculiar method of hanging said pendulum is sufficiently covered by an earlier patent of my own, I need not descnbeit more particularly here.

The ball It of this pendulum is adjusted up and down on the rod 1t thereof by the nut r, to regulate the length of its oscillation and insure the proper action of the verge on the escapement. This nut r is made of the same size as the prismatic end of the center-shaft, so as to'bc operated by the same recessed arm t of the key T. (Shown in detail in Fig. 10.) This arm tis passed up through the opening in the bottom of the clock-case hereinbefore described, so that the clock can be regulated readily without opening said case.

Said pendulum Q is shown in detail in Fi 11. Its ball R is provided with a long vertical recess, 1", through which rod R passes.

Said rod is surrounded within said recess by a helical spring, 0- which bears at its upper end against a guide-plate, S, fixed to said red It, and at its lower end against said ballIt. The effect of said spring is to hold said ball down to its proper place against nut r.

The construction of guide-plate S is clearly shown in detail in Fig. 12. It consists of a middle part, 8, which extends into recess 1", and of straight wings s. which extend on each side along the face of flattened ball It. These wings prevent said ball from turning on said rod. Such turning would cause unnecessary wear, and would interfere with the accuracy of the pendulum action.

The clock is wound by means of key T and hub Said hub is internally screw-threaded, and extends to the outside of case-back A Key T is T-shaped and through opening a. provided with a screw-threaded extension, T, which tits the threads of said hub. hen the clock is to be wound said extension is screwed into said hub. As soon as said extension is screwed quite home the next turn of the key in the same (lllCGflOlt causes the winding of the mainspring to begin. As soon as the winding is complete the said key is turned in the oppositedirection, so as to unscrew said extension, and thus detach said key. To set the hands, the prismatically-recessed arm t of said key is inserted in hollow hub G, and pressed back till it engages with the prismatic end of the center-shaft. The use of this arm for regulating the vibration of the pendulum has already been described. It will be evident that this key is thus susceptible of a triple use.

The back plate, A, and bottom plate, A, of the clock-case are made in one piece. This construction enables me to conveniently disclose the working of the mechanism while the clock is in position for use. I simply remove the remainder of the case. The bottom A then supports the back A and the parts attached thereto, which comprise all the works and the dial of the clock. The wheels, spring, and pendulum are then easily accessible from all quarters, and any obstruction or imperfection will be readily perceived. In many cases the mechanism may be cleaned or mended without taking it to pieces, and its working may be conveniently exhibited.

Instead of the ordinary winding pawl or dog pressed by a spring against the ratchetteeth, I employ an automatic verge-like dog, U. (Shown in detail in Fig. 7.) This dog is pivoted to the center-wheel E, and has an impulse-pallet that is curved slightly inward, and a detent-pallet which has an inwardlyextending nose or point. The inclined part of each tooth on ratchet V acts to press outward said impulse-pallet, and thereby to force inward the other or detent pallet. The latter is thus kept in such position as to catch one of the teeth of said ratchet on the first reverse movement of said ratchet and shaft. As there is no spring-pressure on said dog U, it yields very readily to the motion of its ratchet in winding, and it does not make the disagreeable clicking sound which is made by an ort'linary spring-pressed pawl.

The hand I may be constructed with any other suitable elastic attaching end instead of the slotted one shown. The latter construe tion is, however, preferred.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with afixed circular rack and a stationary clock-movement, a plate rotated by the i'nainspring and carrying a device which connects the rack and movement, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

A perforated clock-case back, in combination with a base-platc for the movement, said base-plate being provided with flexible claws, which may pass through the perforations in said clock-case back, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with mainspring B, perforated at b, the lateral attaching-finger c on flange O of plate 0, said parts being coir structed and applied substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination with mainspring B, the fixed plate 0 and its tlanges G, forming a barrel for said spring, but allowing inspection of the latter b. tween the flanges G, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with .niainspring B and fixed plate 0, the rotating plate I and its hub Gr, said hub extending through plate G for the attachment of the spring, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with ratchet V, a vergelike automatic winding-dog, U, held in proper position for catching by the forward motion of said ratchet.

7. In combination with a pillar-plate, a fixed circular rack having an annular inner recess to receive said plate, whereby said rack serves also the purpose of attaching said plate, and the said parts are made to occupy the least possible space.

S. In eombinationwith a perforated front plate, a rear pillar plate, having twisted tongues on the ends of its pillars, whereby said plates and pillars are clamped together, substantially as set forth.

9. In eon'ibination with a pendulum-rod and adjustable pendulum-lmll, a spring arranged to force said ball down against the adjustingnut.

10. In combination with a pendulum-rod and an adjustable peiululum-ball, a spring fitted into a recess of said ball and operating to force the latter down against the said nut.

11. In combination with the adjusting-nut ot' a pendulum, a eloclecase bottom, perforated at A and a key having a prismatic recess titting said nut, whereby the height of the pendalum-ball may be adjusted by the key from the outside of the clock-ease, substantially as set forth.

12. In combination with a hollowinternallythreaded winding-hub, G, a key having a screw-threzuled portion for engaging with said hub, and a prismatically-reoessed portion for passing through said hub and engaging with the cen ter-sha ft.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR E. HOTOIIKISS.

Witnesses M. U. DOOLITILE, GEO. G. SCRAN'ION. 

